No or little milk
- Thread starter Owain2014
- Start date
- Location
- West Wales
We’ve had some yearlings (some weren’t bred as ewe lambs) with only 1 side working!
The quicker I “ditch” that particular breed that their from the happier i’ll be! For a “new” all singing all dancing breed you’d think they’d be faultless, yearlings with half an udder is useless to me!
The quicker I “ditch” that particular breed that their from the happier i’ll be! For a “new” all singing all dancing breed you’d think they’d be faultless, yearlings with half an udder is useless to me!
RushesToo
Member
- Location
- Fingringhoe
It has been an all round Shite year. They are still growing and there is little left for milk. You have to decide if they will come good, if it is another shite year then they will probably never recover.
If you think the weather will remain ghastly then hold on to the surviving lambs, they are adjusted to poor conditions and will keep going against the odds - they will probably be less fast growing.
Sheep are selected to be fast growing in reasonable conditions, but this is at a price, they tend to suffer more when conditions are crap. The downside of keeping survivors is that they will probably grow slower.
There is no right answer, just understand what choices you need to make and decide or spread the risk.
If you think the weather will remain ghastly then hold on to the surviving lambs, they are adjusted to poor conditions and will keep going against the odds - they will probably be less fast growing.
Sheep are selected to be fast growing in reasonable conditions, but this is at a price, they tend to suffer more when conditions are crap. The downside of keeping survivors is that they will probably grow slower.
There is no right answer, just understand what choices you need to make and decide or spread the risk.
- Location
- West Wales
That is 1 is one of the best posts I’ve ever read on here!
newbie
Member
- Location
- Lancashire
I'm sure you know your job far better than me. But if they have singles then possibly only feeding from one side? I know I had this one year and I had marked her as cull but gave her another chance (she was my favourite....
) the following year she had twins and milked from both sides no problem.
- Location
- West Wales
Producing twins and singles, all seems to be linked to a certain breed.... highly annoying as we go to wet adopt onto them and theirs 1 sideI'm sure you know your job far better than me. But if they have singles then possibly only feeding from one side? I know I had this one year and I had marked her as cull but gave her another chance (she was my favourite....
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
Was thinking the same thing myself.
We get to "play God" in some respects and it pays to be very mindful of outcomes when determining selection criteria, for anything.
Bit of a different story when shearers nick a teat
but it would be necessary to compare weights and condition at parturition to help arrive at a decision IMO.
- Location
- Penzance
Hmmm difficult question tbh... I think it depends on time of year they lamb? If they lamb in spring, grass coming through and are being fed also, they should do well. How hard have you been feeding them? Could depend on type of feed, quantity, water intake is also highly important for milk production, if you have fed them well and they should have plenty of milk but do not... The first year can be a bit hit and miss, second year you will know for sure whether they are milky or not
again I would look at feeding regime and such. It may be worth leaving them for 1 more year, if you can, this winters been pretty bad tbh... Up to you tho all the best with whatever you decide